The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-03
besl0W upon II that tito d
Symphony in LilieA"

Symphony in Liliea"
II vas not strange hat his conduct
should give rise to comment. His two
particular friends laughed hugely. and
then grew grave as they thought Of
the yellow-haired sweetheart ten
blocks away on the same street.
Nor was it strange that a tale should
come to the ken of the young lady her.
self But as often happens in such
cases, the tale was so horrible, in tho
guise that it reached her gentle ears,
that, being a young lady Of impulsive
temperament as well as almost Qua.
kerish integrity Of purpose, she hesitate
cd not an instant but wrote Ruthvcn a
letter in this way:
Il have long noticed the change in
your demeanor toward me, and have
been at q loss to account for it until
now. l know every thing-have
learned it all from q source that could
not err. Whether you love her or not.
there is n duty you owe to her beside
which that of yourself to me is very
slight. Do your duty by her, what
ever that duty may be. To know you
false to me may kill me-; but l would
rather lose you, knowing you to be
false, than to retain you, knowing you
to be q villain. They say you are to
marry her-that she expects it. II
you have broken your VOWS to me, at
least keep faith with her.
Poor Ruthvcn!
He elevated his handsome eyebrows,
drew a deep breath and emitted q long,
low whistle. Then he remembered sew
eral little matters he had not hereto
fore noticed. H. recalled certain words
of the widow that now seemed charged
with deepest meaning, though AT
the Time they were uttered lie
had not accorded them a serious
thought. He remembered that her
eyes were moist last night, that her
hand trcmblcd as-Hcavens! he was
not vain, but-the woman loved him.
;, How stupid it all was, to be sur!
! He sat and pondered for a full hour.
!, He did not often display emotion, but
at the end of that time his face was
very stern and his teeth were clinched
. Then he suddenly arose and went out
-, He sauntered into the ilower-shop
- AS usual, he was %scrupulously dressed
' and the widow thought he had nevel
looked so distinguished or so hand
some.
, Good evening, Mrs. Fox
Good evening, MI. Ruthyen.
= Then he noticed that her lips wer'
!. trembling and that her soft, whit
, cheeks were wet with tears. He grew
u deathly pale, but advanced steadily t'
, the counter. Then he noticed tina
' she was trembling, trembling violent
+ ", in the effort to conceal her tears.
:, lie held out a prcttily-gloved hand
= which she grasped firmly enough
. Then he spoke: Mrs. Fox he said
$ calmly. and'very softly, IAN l RICH
:. in believing that you love me?"
The perfect self-posscssion that ha'
characterized the widows demeano
!" until tonight deserted her wholly
s. She simply gaspcd. "What!' sh
~ almost screamed. a
+ 1t is to be feared that part c
le Ruthven's self-posscssion deserted hir
l. also. But he had set himself his tas
Il and like the gentleman that he was
NJ prepared to go through with it to tn
IL end.
n 81 believed Che did not say hoped
l. YOU will observe) that you did, and
81 a short pausc-I came to ask you t
p marry me-
Id The Widows fnoe was still I'll
lie picture of astonishment, but she co
lie lected herself. and smiled Oh hi
lie kindly. pityingly; Thought you knew
II Mr.. Ruthven,' she said, that WI
H. married Already
'e Rulhven's hand crushed to fra!
ments atiny carthon tlowcr-potth that !
n had been lingering %nervously. ''B'
N | thought he finally hazardct
lie amazedly, "that-that you were a
Il "A widow"
n "You have been mistaken, SIR 81
10 replied, still kindly. What woma
lives who does not pity 4 case OF hop
less love, particularly whenshe hersc
St is The obiec. of it. ii have been ma
C. ricd six years. Ny husband IS on I'll
ut frontier with General Crook con
Id mand. icxpect him home in May
IN Whatever of pity there was i'll h
g heart for him suddenly vanished II
T. tcrly. Somehow she felt, after
OF scrutiny of his face. that Rnthve
he could dispense with it.
IT. "Then may l ask" he said, wit
I: gentle courtesy, "to what | am to a
tribute your display of emotion as
Id entered n few moments agov'
n A good deal of her sorrowfnl e
he preston returned, "Oh. it is nothir
very much, sir" she answered, wear
h. ", '.only l must have $3.50 to-morro
ar TO puy two months rent. Mr.. -